Fixture device for folding a seal member

ABSTRACT

A fixation device for folding a seal member includes a frame having a horizontal portion and an upright portion, a press assembly secured to the upright portion of the frame, and a nest assembly secured to the horizontal portion of the frame. The press assembly includes a handle assembly and an anvil assembly operably connected to the handle assembly. The nest assembly includes a clamping assembly, a folding assembly supported on the clamping assembly, a support assembly supported on the folding assembly, and a nest member. The support assembly includes a support plate and a seal clamp for securing a seal member.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to surgical access devices for minimallyinvasive surgery. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to afixture device for folding a seal member for a surgical access device.

BACKGROUND

In order to facilitate minimally invasive surgery, a working space iscreated at the desired surgical site. An insufflation fluid, typicallyCO₂, is introduced into the abdomen of the patient to create an inflatedstate called a pneumoperitoneum. Access assemblies are utilized to allowthe introduction of surgical instrumentation and endoscopes (or othervisualization tools). These access assemblies maintain the pressure forthe pneumoperitoneum, as they have one or more seals that adapt to thesurgical instrumentation. Typically, a “zero-seal” in the accessassembly seals the access assembly in the absence of a surgicalinstrument in the access assembly, and an instrument seal seals around asurgical instrument that has been inserted through the access assembly.

The instrument seal includes a seal member that may include a supportbase and a plurality of stacked petals. The petals may be independentlyformed and secured to the support base, or the petals may be integrallyformed with the support base. The integrally formed seal member istypically formed as a flat sheet with the petals having to be foldedrelative to the base. To minimize leaking once formed, the petals of theseal member may be interwoven. If the petals are folded withoutinterweaving, the durability of the seal member may be compromised andmore likely to leak if torn.

Folding the petals by hand is a long and tedious process and may resultin defective folding. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have afixation device for assisting in folding the petals of the seal member.

SUMMARY

A fixation device for folding a seal member is provided. The fixationdevice includes a frame having a horizontal portion and an uprightportion, a press assembly secured to the upright portion of the frame,and a nest assembly secured to the horizontal portion of the frame. Thepress assembly includes a handle assembly and an anvil assembly operablyconnected to the handle assembly. The nest assembly includes a clampingassembly, a folding assembly supported on the clamping assembly, asupport assembly supported on the folding assembly, and a nest member.The support assembly includes a support plate and a seal clamp forsecuring a seal member.

In some aspects of the disclosure, the seal clamp includes a ringportion and a plurality of arm portions extending radially inward fromthe ring portion. The nest member may include a hexagonal shape. Thenest member may be movable relative to the base between a raisedposition and a lowered position. A top surface of the nest assembly maydefine a plurality of openings for receiving retaining pins. The anvilassembly may include an anvil member configured for selective engagementwith the seal member supported on the support assembly.

In certain aspects, the folding assembly includes an activation ring, aguide member, and a plurality of arm members supported on the activationring. The guide member may define a plurality of channels configured toslidably retain the plurality of arm members. First ends of the armmembers may be pivotally secured relative to the activation ring. Secondends of the arm members may be configured to engage flap portions of theseal member. The arm members are movable from a first position to asecond position when the activation ring is rotated in a firstdirection. The plurality of arm members may include six arm members.

A method of folding a seal member using a fixation device is alsoprovided. The method includes loading a seal member on a nest assemblyof the fixation device, advancing an anvil member into engagement with asupport portion of the seal member to cause folding of flap portions ofthe seal member relative to the support portion of the seal member,retracting the anvil member away from the seal member, activating afolding assembly to continue the folding and interweaving of the flapportions of the seal member, and advancing the anvil member intoengagement with the flap portions to flatten the flap portions.

In certain aspects of the disclosure, loading the seal member on thenest assembly includes placing the seal member on a support plate of asupport assembly and securing a seal clamp to the support plate.Securing the seal clamp to the support plate may include aligning armportions of the seal clamp with sections of the flap portions of theseal member. The method may further include advancing of the anvilmember into engagement with the support portion of the seal assemblycausing the flap portions of the seal member to interweave. Advancingthe anvil member into engagement with the support portion may includelowering a nest member of the nest assembly to a lowered position. Themethod may further include clamping the nest member in the loweredposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate aspects of the disclosure and,together with a general description of the disclosure given above, andthe detailed description of the aspects given below, serve to explainthe principles of the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fixture device for folding a sealmember according to an aspect of the disclosure and a seal member;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a base, a clamping assembly, and a nestmember of a nest assembly of the fixation device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the nest member shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the nest assembly shown in FIG. 4, witha seal clamp of a support assembly separated from the support plate, andincluding the seal member shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is the perspective view of the nest assembly shown in FIG. 6,with the seal clamp of the support assembly secured to the supportplate;

FIG. 8 is a top cross-sectional view of the nest assembly shown in FIG.7 taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7, with a clamp member of the clampassembly in a retracted position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fixture device shown in FIG. 1, witha press assembly in an activated position;

FIG. 10 is a front cross-sectional view of the nest assembly shown inFIG. 9 taken along section line 10-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top cross-sectional view of the nest assembly shown in FIG.10 taken along section line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown inFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of the nest assembly shown in FIGS.9-11, with the clamp assembly in a locked position and an anvil assemblyof the press assembly in retracted position; and

FIG. 14 is the top cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 11, with the clampassembly in a locked position and an activation ring of a foldingassembly in an activated position;

FIG. 15 is the front cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 10, with theseal member in a partially folded condition and the anvil assembly in apartially advanced position;

FIG. 16 is the front cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 10, with theseal member in a folded configuration and the anvil assembly in a fullyadvanced position;

FIG. 17 is the top cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 11 with the sealmember in the folded configuration and the anvil assembly in the fullyadvanced position;

FIG. 18 is the side perspective view shown FIG. 13, with the clampassembly in an unlocked condition and the anvil assembly in a retractedposition;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the seal member shown in FIG. 3, in afolded configuration;

FIG. 20 is a side perspective view of the fixture device shown in FIG.7, with an upper retaining member of a retainer assembly and a guardassembly positioned adjacent the folded seal member shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is the side perspective view shown in FIG. 20, with the anvilassembly engaged with the upper retainer member;

FIG. 22 is a top perspective view of an upper retainer member, a guardassembly, and the seal member shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 23 is a bottom perspective view of the upper retainer member, theguard assembly, and the seal member as shown in FIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular aspects of the disclosure are described hereinbelow withreference to the accompanying drawings; however, it is to be understoodthat the disclosed devices are merely exemplary of the disclosure andmay be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructionsare not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure inunnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functionaldetails disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butmerely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosure invirtually any appropriately detailed structure. Like reference numeralsrefer to similar or identical elements throughout the description of thefigures.

As used herein, the term “distal” refers to that portion of theinstrument, or component thereof which is farther from the user whilethe term “proximal” refers to that portion of the instrument orcomponent thereof which is closer to the user. As used herein, the term“about” means that the numerical value is approximate and smallvariations would not significantly affect the practice of the disclosedaspects of the disclosure. Where a numerical limitation is used, unlessindicated otherwise by the context, “about” means the numerical valuecan vary by ±10% and remain within the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a device for folding and securing a seal member showngenerally as fixation device 100. The fixation device 100 includes aframe 110, a nest assembly 200 operably secured to the frame 110, and apress assembly 300 secured to the frame 110.

The frame 110 includes a base or horizontal portion 112 and a support orupright portion 114. The horizontal portion 112 of the frame 110supports the nest assembly 200, and the upright portion 114 of the frame110 supports the press assembly 300. The horizontal portion 112 of theframe 110 is configured to releasably and adjustably receive the nestassembly 200, and the upright portion 114 of the frame 110 is configuredto releasably and adjustably receive the press assembly 300. Moreparticularly, the base portion 112 of the frame 110 defines a channel113 for receiving the nest assembly 200 and the upright portion 114 ofthe frame 110 includes a channel 115 for receiving the press assembly300.

FIG. 2 illustrates the nest assembly 200 including a base 210, a clampassembly 220 supported on the base 210, a folding assembly 240 supportedon the clamp assembly 220, a support assembly 260 supported on thefolding assembly 240, and a nest member 280 operably disposed relativeto the base 210, the clamp assembly 220, the folding assembly 240, andthe support assembly 260. The clamp assembly 220 is configured toselectively engage the nest member 280 to permit movement of the nestmember 280 relative to the base 210, the folding assembly 240 isconfigured to facilitate folding of the seal member 50 (FIG. 3), thesupport assembly 260 retains a portion of the seal member 50 during thefolding process to facilitate interweaving of flap portions 54 a-f ofthe seal member 50, and the nest member 280 supports the seal member 50during the folding process.

FIG. 3 illustrates the seal member 50 configured to be folded andsecured to an upper retaining member 70 and a guard assembly 80 usingthe fixation device 100 (see FIG. 20). The seal member 50 includes asupport portion 52 and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, andsixth flap portions 54 a-f integrally formed with the support portion52. The support portion 52 defines a central opening 51 and a pluralityof openings 53 radially spaced about the central opening 51. The flapportions 54 are moveable from a flat configuration (FIG. 3) to a foldedconfiguration (FIG. 19). Each flap portion 54 a-f of the plurality offlap portions 54 defines a plurality of openings 55 about a perimeter ofeach of the flap portions 54 a-f. The plurality of openings 55 of theflap portions 54 a-f align with the plurality of openings 53 of thesupport portion 52 when the seal member 50 is in the foldedconfiguration.

FIG. 4 illustrates the nest assembly 200 with the folding assembly 240(FIG. 2) and the support assembly 260 removed from the base 210 and theclamp assembly 220 to expose the nest member 280. The clamp assembly 220is configured to maintain the nest member 280 in either a first orraised position (FIG. 4) or a second or lowered position (FIG. 13).

FIG. 5 illustrates the nest member 280 including a body 282 having ahexagonal configuration corresponding to the support portion 52 (FIG. 3)of the seal member 50. A top surface 284 of the body 282 of the nestmember 280 defines a plurality of openings 283 corresponding to theplurality of openings 53 in the support portion 52 of the seal member50. The plurality of openings 283 is configured to receive alignmentpins 214 (FIG. 6) for maintaining the seal member 50 relative to thenest member 280. The top surface 284 of the body 282 further defines apair of openings 285 formed along a midline of the nest member 280. Theopenings 285 receive positioning pins 216 (FIG. 8) for restricting thenest member 280 from lateral movement relative to the base 210 whilepermitting raising and lowering of the nest member 280 during a foldingprocess.

The body 282 of the nest member 280 includes six sides 282 a-f. Opposedsides 282 a, 282 d each define a first slot 287 and a second slot 289.The first slots 287 in the body 282 of the nest member 280 areconfigured to releasably receive legs 224 (FIG. 4) of a clamp member 222of the clamp assembly 220 to maintain the nest member 280 in a first orraised position relative to the base 210, and the second slots 289 inthe opposed sides 282 a, 282 d of the body 282 of the nest member 280are configured to releasably receive the legs 222 of the clamp member222 of the clamp assembly 220 to maintain the nest member 280 in asecond or lowered position relative to the base 210.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the nest assembly 200 as the seal member 50 isloaded onto the support assembly 260. The support assembly 260 includesa support plate 262 and a seal clamp 270 releasably securable to thesupport plate 262 to secure the seal member 50 relative to the supportplate 262. The support plate 262 defines a central hexagonal opening 261(FIG. 2) configured to receive the nest member 280 therethrough. A rim264 (FIG. 2) extends about an outer surface of the support plate 262.The rim 264 creates a recess 263 (FIG. 3) for accommodating the flapportions 54 a-f (FIG. 2) of the seal member 50 when the seal member 50is loaded on the support plate 262. A plurality of posts 266 extend fromthe rim 264 of the support plate 262 and is configured to facilitateattachment of the seal clamp 270 to the support plate 262.

The seal member 50 is loaded on the support plate 262 when the nestmember 280 is supported by the clamp member 222 of the clamp assembly220 in the raised position. In this manner, the top surface 284 of thenest member 280 is flush with the support plate 262, therebyfacilitating loading of the seal member 50 in its flat configuration onthe nest assembly 200. More particularly, the support portion 52 of theseal member 50 is positioned on the top surface 284 of the nest member280 and the flap portions 54 a-f of the seal member 50 are positioned onthe support plate 262 within the recess 263 created by the rim 264. Theseal member 50 is aligned with the nest member 280 such that theretaining pins 214 received within the plurality of openings 283 in thenest member 280 align with the openings 53 in the seal member 50.

Once the seal member 50 is loaded on the support plate 262 and the nestmember 280, the seal clamp 270 is secured to the support plate 262 toretain the flap portions 54 a-f of the seal member 50 relative to thesupport plate 262. The seal plate 270 includes a ring portion 272 and aplurality of arm portions 274 a-f extending radially inward from thering portion 272. The ring portion 272 of the seal clamp 270 defines aplurality of openings 273 corresponding to the plurality of posts 266extending from the rim 264 of the support plate 262 for receiving theplurality of posts 266 and securing the seal clamp 270 relative to thesupport plate 262. Each arm portion 274 a-f of the seal clamp 270 isconfigured to engage a section of the flap portions 54 a-f of the sealmember 50 to maintain the flap portions 54 a-f relative to the supportplate 262 and to facilitate the folding of the flap portions 54 a-frelative to the seal member 50. More particularly, the arm portions 274a-f of the seal clamp 270 are configured to interweave the respectiveflap portions 54 a-f of the seal member 50 during the folding process.

FIG. 8 illustrates the nest member 280 being released from the clampassembly 220. More particularly, the clamp member 222 of the clampassembly 220 is retracted, as indicated by arrows “A”, to disengage legs224 of the clamp member 222 from the nest member 280, i.e., withdraw thelegs 224 from within the first slots 287 in the opposed sides 282 a, 282d of the nest member 280. Once the clamp member 222 is disengaged fromthe nest member 280, the nest member 280 is free to be presseddownwards, against the bias of a spring member 290 (FIG. 10), by thepress assembly 300.

FIG. 9 illustrates activation of the press assembly 300 to engage ananvil assembly 310 of the press assembly 300 with the support member 52of the seal member 50. More particularly, the press assembly 300includes the anvil assembly 310 operably secured to a handle assembly320. Rotational movement of the handle assembly 320, as indicated byarrow “B”, causes an anvil member 312 (FIG. 10) of the anvil assembly310 to advance into engagement with the support portion 52 of the sealmember 50, as indicated by arrow “C”. Continued advancement of the anvilassembly 310 moves the nest member 280, including the support portion 52of the seal member 50, relative to the support member 262 of the supportassembly 260 against the bias of the spring member 290 (FIG. 10) andthrough a central passage 241 (FIG. 8) of a guide member 242 (FIG. 11)of the folding assembly 240.

As the nest member 280 is moved relative to the support assembly 260,the flap portions 54 a-f of the seal member 50, of which a section ofthe flap portions 54 a-f are retained in place by arm portions 274 a-fof the seal clamp 270 of the support assembly 260, are folded relativeto the support portion 52 of the seal member 50.

As the flap portions 54 a-f of the seal member 50 are folded relative tothe support portion 52 of the seal member 50, the engagement of thesections of the flap portions 54 a-f by the respective arm portions 274a-f of the seal clamp 270 cause the flap portions 54 a-f to overlap witheach other in an alternating or interwoven fashion (see FIG. 12). Inthis manner, a first section of the first flap portion 54 a overlaps asecond section of sixth flap portion 54 f, a first section of the secondflap portion 54 b overlaps a second section of the first flap portion 54a, a first section of the third flap portion 54 c overlaps a secondsection of the second flap portion 54 b, a first section of the fourthflap portion 54 d overlaps a second section of the third flap portion 54c, a first section of the fifth flap portion 54 e overlaps a secondsection of the fourth flap portion 54 d, and a first section of thesixth flap portion 54 f overlaps a second section of the fifth flapportion 54 e.

FIGS. 10-12 illustrate the nest member 280 of the nest assembly 200 in afully-depressed position relative to the base 210. In this position, theflap portions 54 a-f of the seal member 50 are in a partially foldedconfiguration extending perpendicular to the support portion 52 of theseal member 50 and along the central passage 241 of the guide member 242of the folding assembly 240. As noted above, the flap portions 54 a-f ofthe seal member 50 are also disposed in the interwoven fashion (FIG.12).

FIG. 11 illustrates the folding assembly 240 including the guide member242 and an activation ring 244 disposed about and rotatable relative tothe guide member 244. The guide member 242 defines first, second, third,fourth, fifth, and sixth channels 243 a-f aligned with the respectivefirst, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth flap portions 54 a-f ofthe seal member 50. Each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth andsixth channels 243 a-f receives a respective first, second, third,fourth, fifth, and sixth arm member 244 a-f. First ends 244 a′-f′ of thefirst, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth arm member 244 a-f,respectively, are pivotally secured within respective cam slots 243 a-fformed in the activation ring 244. Second ends 244 a″-f″ of the armmembers 244 a-f are configured to align with the flap portions 54 a-f,respectively, of the seal member 50.

Although the second ends 244 a″-f″ of the respective arm members 244 a-fare aligned with the respective flap portions 54 a-f of the seal member50, the second ends 244 a″-f″ engage the overlapping section of theadjacent flap portions 54 b-a. More particularly, the second end 244 a″of the first arm member 244 a engages the second flap portion 54 b, thesecond end 244 b″ of the second arm member 244 b engages the third flapportion 54 c, the second end 244 c″ of the third arm member 244 cengages the fourth flap portion 54 d, the second end 244 d″ of thefourth arm member 244 d engages the fifth flap portion 54 e, the secondend 244 e″ of the fifth arm member 244 e engages the sixth flap portion54 f, and the second end 244 f′ of the sixth arm member 244 f engagesthe first flap portion 54 a.

FIG. 13 illustrates the clamp member 222 of the clamp assembly 220 beingadvanced, as indicated by arrow “D”, into engagement with the nestmember 280 to lock the nest member 280 relative to the base 210. Moreparticularly, the legs 224 of the clamp member 222 are received withinthe second slots 289 (FIG. 5) in the opposed sides 282 a, 282 d of thenest member 280 to retain the nest member 280 in the lowered position.Once the nest member 280 is locked in the lowered position, the anvilmember 312 is retracted from engagement with the support portion 52 ofthe seal member 50, as indicated by arrow “E” to permit operation of thefolding assembly 260.

FIG. 14 illustrates rotation of the activation ring 244 in acounterclockwise direction, as indicated by arrows “F”. Rotation of theactivation ring 244 advances the first, second, third, fourth, fifth,and sixth arm members 244 a-f of the folding assembly 240 through therespective first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth channels 243a-f of the guide member 242. As the arm members 244 a-f advance throughthe respective channels 243 a-f, the second ends 244 a″-f″ of the armmembers 244 a-f move the flap portions 54 a-f of the seal member 50radially inward while maintaining the interwoven configuration of theflap portions 54 a-f.

FIG. 15 illustrates an initial advancement of the anvil member 312 ofthe anvil assembly 310 of the press assembly 300 into engagement withthe partially folded and interwoven flap portions 54 a-f of the sealmember 50, as indicated by arrow “G”.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate the anvil member 312 of the anvil assembly310 of the press assembly 300 after being fully advanced relative to thenest member 280. When the anvil member 312 of the anvil assembly 310 isin the fully advanced position, the flap portions 54 a-f of the sealmember 50 are completely interwoven and the seal member 50 is in thefolded configuration.

FIG. 18 illustrates the return of the nest assembly 200 to its initialconfiguration. More particularly, the anvil member 312 of the anvilassembly 310 of the press assembly 300 is retracted relative to the nestassembly 200, as indicated by arrow “H”, and the clamp member 222 of theclamp assembly 220 is withdrawn from engagement with the nest member280, as indicated by arrow “I”. In this manner, the nest member 280,including the seal member 50 in the folded configuration is returned tothe raised position through the bias of the spring member 290 (FIG. 16).

FIG. 19 illustrates the seal member 50 in the folded configurationfollowing the folding procedure with the fixation device 100.

FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate an upper retainer member 70 and a guardassembly 80 being secured to the seal member 50. More particularly, theupper retainer member 70 of a retaining assembly and the guard assembly80 are positioned on the seal member 50 with retaining members 72 of theupper retaining member 70 aligned with the openings 53 in the supportportion 52 of the seal member 50 and the corresponding opening 55 of theflap portions 54 a-f of the seal member 50. The anvil member 312 of theanvil assembly 310 of the press assembly 300 is then advanced, asindicated by arrow “J”, to press fit the upper retaining member 70 andthe guard assembly 80 to the seal member 50.

FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate the seal member 50, in the foldedconfiguration, secured to the upper retainer member 70 of the retainerassembly (not shown) and the guard assembly 80. For a detaileddescription of an exemplary retaining assembly and guard assembly,please refer to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/774,206, filed Jan.28, 2020.

It is envisioned that the folding process described above may bemodified for use in an automated system. This would enable assembly ofseal members at an increased rate.

While various aspects of the disclosure have been shown and describedherein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theseaspects are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations,changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended thatthe disclosure be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fixation device for folding a seal member, thefixation device comprising: a frame including a horizontal portion andan upright portion; a press assembly secured to the upright portion ofthe frame, the press assembly including a handle assembly and an anvilassembly operably connected to the handle assembly; and a nest assemblysecured to the horizontal portion of the frame, the nest assemblyincluding a clamping assembly, a folding assembly supported on theclamping assembly, a support assembly supported on the folding assembly,and a nest member, wherein the support assembly includes a support plateand a seal clamp for securing a seal member.
 2. The fixation device ofclaim 1, wherein the seal clamp includes a ring portion and a pluralityof arm portions extending radially inward from the ring portion.
 3. Thefixation device of claim 1, wherein the nest member has a hexagonalshape.
 4. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the nest member ismovable relative to the base between a raised position and a loweredposition.
 5. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein a top surface ofthe nest assembly defines a plurality of openings for receivingretaining pins.
 6. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the anvilassembly includes an anvil member configured for selective engagementwith the seal member supported on the support assembly.
 7. The fixationdevice of claim 1, wherein the folding assembly includes an activationring, a guide member, and a plurality of arm members supported on theactivation ring.
 8. The fixation device of claim 7, wherein the guidemember defines a plurality of channels configured to slidably retain theplurality of arm members.
 9. The fixation device of claim 8, whereinfirst ends of the arm members are pivotally secured relative to theactivation ring.
 10. The fixation device of claim 9, wherein second endsof the arm members are configured to engage flap portions of the sealmember.
 11. The fixation device of claim 10, wherein the arm members aremovable from a first position to a second position when the activationring is rotated in a first direction.
 12. The fixation device of claim9, wherein the plurality of arm members includes six arm members.
 13. Amethod of folding a seal member using a fixation device, the methodcomprising: loading a seal member on a nest assembly of the fixationdevice; advancing an anvil member into engagement with a support portionof the seal member to cause folding of flap portions of the seal memberrelative to the support portion of the seal member; retracting the anvilmember away from the seal member; activating a folding assembly tocontinue the folding and interweaving of the flap portions of the sealmember; and advancing the anvil member into engagement with the flapportions to flatten the flap portions.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein loading the seal member on the nest assembly includes placingthe seal member on a support plate of a support assembly and securing aseal clamp to the support plate.
 15. The method of claim 14, whereinsecuring the seal clamp to the support plate includes aligning armportions of the seal clamp with sections of the flap portions of theseal member.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein advancing of the anvilmember into engagement with the support portion of the seal assemblycauses the flap portions of the seal member to interweave.
 17. Themethod of claim 13, wherein advancing the anvil member into engagementwith the support portion includes lowering a nest member of the nestassembly to a lowered position.
 18. The method of claim 17, furtherincluding clamping the nest member in the lowered position.